ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 9

Ricochet Dynamics for the Nine-Millimetre Parabellum Bullet
Schecter, B
Head, Weapons Identification Laboratory, Division of Identification and Forensic Science, Israel National Police Headquarters,

Gold, RE
Weapons identification examiner, Weapons Identification Laboratory, Division of Identification and Forensic Science, Israel National Police Headquarters, CO

(Received 1 September 1990; accepted 24 June 1991)

Abstract

The presence of extraneous markings on a fired bullet that has ricocheted off water depends on the angle of incidence of the bullet to the water and the depth of the water. An Uzi submachine gun, held in a machine rest, was fired into a large container of water at various controlled angles. The angle of incidence and the angle of departure of the bullet from the water were measured. The critical angle of ricochet, the depth of penetration, and the path of the bullet in the water were measured. The measured critical angle of ricochet of a 9-mm parabellum bullet fired from the above weapon was 6.5°. The maximum depth of penetration into the water during ricochet was found to be 22 mm. The maximum track length in the water was 62 cm.

Keywords:
criminalistics, ballistics, water, projectile entry angles, bullets, ricochet, penetration, critical angle, depth

Paper ID: JFS13215J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13215J
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